Panamanian Shaved Ice - Delicioso Raspao’ 
I am not sure when shaved ice was first introduced to our country Panamá, but going back on history it could had been during the railroad construction days when hot, exhausted workers needed a way to cool off. They would shave a block of ice with a hand plainer and flavor it with juice. The concept has stayed the same but the process has changed a bit in some places. Nowadays, it is still commonly found sold in shaved iced stands or “carrito de raspao,” and also it’s being offered in its “gourmet” presentation made in a machine to shave the ice finer and faster.
Although I have not tried the gourmet version, I was told it’s sold for up to $3.00 each in some new spot in the Causeway zone in Panama City. The most common version, a delicious kind of “colorful street food” costs between $0.35-$0.75 each, some of them still use the original flavor recipes from long ago.
A couple of weeks ago I finally had the time to visit one of my favorite spots in my country Panama: the (republic)...excuse me, the province of Chiriqui in the highlands of Panama, sharing beautiful land with our neighbour country of Costa Rica. The photos posted today were taken there. Yummy Shaved Ice, 0.35 each…had two though! 
If you have not been there yet, well, what are you waiting for?
Enjoy now the pictorial delight, you can lick the computer screen under your own risk! LOL
Big hugs from the tropics to you and your loved ones!
Chef Melissa
- by Chef Melissa
- February 23, 2010
- 4:10 pm
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Comments
02.24.10 at 04:50 AM |
We called these snow cones in New Orleans where I spent several hot steamy summers as a child visiting my father’s family. They were special treats I, as well as my brothers and cousins, always looked forward to. They’re still a favorite in NOLA today as the temperature strats rising.
02.24.10 at 05:21 PM |
Riquisimos , en costa Rica les llamamos copos. Y son muy refrescantes,mas ahora con tan altas temperaturas. Saludos
Ivonne
02.25.10 at 01:07 PM |
When I was a kid these would cost a nickel (B$0.05)! The paper cones look the same, though. Nice.
02.25.10 at 11:48 PM |
Love these growing up. We called them piraguas (Puerto Rican).
02.28.10 at 01:27 PM |
Ohh, I want that ice-cream so much! really it looks so delicious!
03.04.10 at 01:51 PM |
I’m hoping that at least one of the 2 you had was topped con leche condensada!
I truly miss raspao (among many-many other things typical of our beloved country!)
03.18.10 at 07:58 PM |
Ah! I loved these as a kid. I have known them as both shaved ice and snow cones, and had them in San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Boise, ID. I loved them on hot days for their coolness and the flavors. In Seattle I had a form of gourmet shaved ice that used special glacial ice from Alaska. The cost was higher and really they tasted the same as all the rest. The best snow cones were always the least expensive, and the vendors always the most polite. I think they enjoyed the work more.
Sincerely,
Donald
04.11.10 at 10:40 AM |
I finally had the time to visit one of my favorite spots in my country Panama: the excuse me, the province of Chiriqui in the highlands of Panama, sharing beautiful land with our neighbour country of Costa Rica.
04.11.10 at 09:21 PM |
The photograph of this shaved ice here is so mouthwatering; I can’t help the wish just to go buy it! So let Panamanian sellers of this great stuff thank the author of this marvelous articleJ
04.12.10 at 08:20 AM |
oh Brain Freeze! but i like it. Under the Sun, white sand beach and shaved Ice.. Perfect Moment
04.15.10 at 02:15 PM |
Nada como un buen raspao. Te felicito por tu blog. Muy bueno. Lo voy a compartir.
slds.,
Maneul
04.20.10 at 06:30 AM |
Yummy, Ice cream… I really want to taste it.
04.20.10 at 09:30 PM |
I miss them so much!. Soy chiricana (David).
04.26.10 at 05:06 AM |
They would shave a block of ice with a hand plainer and flavor it with juice. The concept has stayed the same but the process has changed a bit in some places.
04.26.10 at 04:42 PM |
Yummy… I live in Pakistan.. In south Asia we called it “GOLA Ganda”. In may childhood I never return back from school until I have it. Love it Thank you Melissa to take me back to my childhood.
05.27.10 at 08:41 AM |
I love ice creams and most people do. There are some personal favorites, I love the ones with nuts and other toppings.
06.08.10 at 07:12 AM |
Hey I really like the ice-cream..loved to have one chocolate flavor…
06.17.10 at 08:56 AM |
good perfect post thanks
06.18.10 at 05:25 AM |
I love shaved ice, I have tried it in few countries (3) and they have many unique flavors based on location. I have not yet tried in Panama or visited there, may be one of these days, will see.
I have try to make shaved ice at home with shaved ice machine, it is not bad, but I still enjoy eating from a small shop always.
06.26.10 at 03:41 AM |
Oh dear! I really do have to lick my computer screen. This looks SO good.
06.29.10 at 07:32 AM |
The concept has stayed the same but the process has changed a bit in some places. Nowadays, it is still commonly found sold in shaved iced stands or “carrito de raspao,” and also it’s being offered in its “gourmet” presentation made in a machine to shave the ice finer and faster.
07.02.10 at 08:47 PM |
My favorite summer street treat is a cantelope popsicle. A man in my neighborhood pushes a cart around with fresh fruit treats!
12.03.10 at 05:24 AM |
Wow..My mouth keeps on watering when I saw the refreshing cold ice cream like. I am very interested to know the taste of this ice cream like. This is really great for summer. I bet, this is best for the mouth that feels dry because of the summer season. Thanks for this blog!
12.09.10 at 06:22 AM |
Wow! This blog is keeping my mouth watering when I look at the picture. How I wish to taste this cold Panamanian Shaved Ice. I never had seen this before in my whole life.
12.23.10 at 08:09 AM |
Wow! We have those shaved ice too in my home country Indonesia.. it cost around 20c-30c.. I really want to visit Panama one day
12.28.10 at 06:15 AM |
this is the best street food somehow it is discriminated by others
04.01.11 at 01:33 AM |
wow..very appetizing!
this blog really help me preparing a new recipe for my family..thanks!
04.21.11 at 11:53 AM |
i love ice gola.. great post thanks for sharing us.
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